Methods and apparatus for extracting active ingredients

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides apparatus and methods for extracting active ingredients from a raw material. The apparatus comprises an atomized water particle production device; an extracting device for bringing a raw material into contact with the atomized water particles so that the atomized water particles trap active ingredients in the raw material; a condensing device for liquefying the atomized water particles that hold the active ingredients; and means for promoting extraction of the raw material. The means for promoting extraction may comprise decompression means for subjecting the raw material within the extracting device to decompression and activation means for activating the raw material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for extractingactive ingredients from various raw materials of plant, animal andmineral origin.

A related technique for extracting active ingredients contained inplants or the like is disclosed in Japanese Patent ApplicationPublication No. H09-67259. This related technique is designed to extracta minute amount of active ingredients from plants, animals, minerals, orthe like. Based on the foregoing technique, the present inventorestablished a technique for extracting a minute amount of activeingredients from coffee beans, soybeans or the like.

The active ingredients extracted by the foregoing technique are obtainedin solution form. The solution contains only a minute amount of theactive ingredients. This makes it difficult to identify the extractedactive ingredients. Further, inconvenient handling of the extractedactive ingredients restricts the range of applications.

Thus, the present inventor developed a technique for solidifying theextract obtained by the foregoing technique. This solidificationtechnique is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No.2003-117307. The solidification technique enables easy specification oridentification of the components of the extract, so that the presentinventor discovered that a novel functional peptide exists in an extractfrom coffee beans and that this peptide has anticancer activity andanti-inflammatory activity. This invention is disclosed in JapanesePatent Publication No. 2005-516790.

However, the foregoing conventional techniques have a problem ofinefficient extraction. More specifically, a large amount of rawmaterials are used during many hours of extraction. In addition, theconventional techniques are not able to extract all the ingredients ofthe raw materials, and cannot solidify the extracted ingredients.

RELATED PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

-   1. JP-A-S63-274402-   2. JP-A-H09-67259-   3. JP-A-H11-271040-   4. JP-A-2002-335862

5. JP-A-2002-226391

-   6. JP-A-2000-308801-   7. U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,758

Objects of the present invention include to:

a: extract active ingredients from a raw material efficiently;

b: extract a wider variety of active ingredients, compared to theconventional techniques; and

c: solidify the extracted active ingredients.

The methods and apparatus of the present invention provide the foregoingand other advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the problems of the conventional techniques, thepresent invention provides an apparatus for extracting activeingredients, the apparatus including: an atomized water particleproduction device; an extracting device for bringing a raw material intocontact with the atomized water particles so that the atomized waterparticles trap active ingredients in the raw material; a condensingdevice for liquefying the atomized water particles that hold the activeingredients; and means for promoting extraction, in which the means forpromoting extraction includes: decompression means for subjecting theraw material within the extracting device to decompression; andactivation means for activating the raw material.

In the apparatus for extracting active ingredients, the atomized waterparticle production device, the extracting device, the condensingdevice, and the decompression means may be connected to each otherthrough pipes, forming a circulating closed circuit, and thedecompression means may be a blower that allows air flow, which containsthe atomized water particles, to circulate through the circulatingclosed circuit.

Further, the activation means for activating the raw material may be amagnetic vibrator. Still further, the activation means for activatingthe raw material may be an ultrasonic device. Still further, theactivation means for activating the raw material may be a magnetizingdevice.

The extracting device may include: a housing and a raw materialcontainer housed in the housing. The housing may be provided with all,or at least one of, the magnetic vibrator, the ultrasonic device, andthe magnetizing device, and the raw material container may be made up ofmeshes.

In the apparatus for extracting active ingredients according to any oneof the foregoing embodiments, an additional magnetizing device forapplying a magnetic field to water or the atomized water particles isprovided.

The extracting device includes the housing and the raw materialcontainer housed in the housing. The raw material container is made upof a mesh bag through which air flow that contains the atomized waterparticles easily passes. The mesh bag stores therein a plant, an animal,or a mineral raw material. The raw material is preferably pulverizedinto pieces. The atomized water particles flow into the raw materialwithin the extracting device and is brought into contact with the rawmaterial, so that the atomized water particles trap active ingredientsin the raw material. At this time, the means for promoting extractionpromotes extraction of the active ingredients to a surface of the rawmaterial. The means for promoting extraction includes: the decompressionmeans for subjecting the raw material within the extracting device todecompression; and the activation means for activating the raw material.The means for promoting extraction, having the aforementionedconstruction, promotes water atomization under decompression, whilepromoting extraction of the active ingredients to the surface of the rawmaterial by the decompression means and the activation means so that theatomized water particles trap the active ingredients. This allows forhigh-efficiency extraction of the active ingredients. At the same time,this enables a wider variety of active ingredients to be extracted,compared to the conventional techniques.

The decompression means is a known blower. The blower operates on thecirculating closed circuit to subject the raw material within theextracting device to decompression. The circulating closed circuit isformed by connecting the atomized water particle production device, theextracting device, the condensing device, and the decompression means toeach other through pipes. The decompression allows the activeingredients in the raw material to be extracted to the surface of theraw material, and then bring them into contact with the atomized waterparticles.

The extracting device is provided with the activation means foractivating the raw material. The activation means includes: at least oneof the magnetic vibrator, the ultrasonic device, and the magnetizingdevice. These devices may each be mounted to the extracting device.Selection of the devices to be used depends on the nature of the rawmaterial. The magnetic vibrator is a known electromagnetic-drivendevice, and is preferably provided with means for controlling thevibration frequency. When the atomized water particles pass through theextracting device, the housing of the extracting device is vibrated tomove the active ingredients in the raw material to its surface, and alsoto rotate the raw material. This allows the raw material and theatomized water particles to successively change a contact surfacetherebetween, thus to enhance the extraction efficiency. Thesesuccessive changes of the contact surface between the raw material andthe atomized water particles indicate an increase in contact surfacearea therebetween, compared to the case where the raw material staysstill.

The ultrasonic device may have an oscillator and a vibrator, and isdesigned both to apply an ultrasonic wave to the raw material and toexcite vibrations on the vibrating plate connected to the vibrator, thusto vibrate the raw material. Application of an ultrasonic wave to theraw material results in slight vibrations of the respective pulverizedpieces of the raw material, thereby splitting the high molecular weightpolymer chains into low molecular weight polymer units and achievingactivation within the raw material. Under this condition, when the rawmaterial is subjected to decompression, various active ingredients inthe raw material are extracted to the surface of the raw material. Thisenables a wider variety of active ingredients to be extracted, comparedto the conventional techniques.

The vibrating plate may be interposed between the vibrator of theultrasonic device and the housing of the extracting device to vibratethe housing. This results in the same effect as obtained by the magneticvibrator.

The extracting device may be provided with an additional magnetizingdevice for applying a magnetic field to the raw material, water and theatomized water particles. This magnetizing device uses a known magneticfield generator. The magnetizing magnetic field generator may be mountedto the housing of the extracting device, to the atomized water particleproduction device, and/or at an appropriate location of the circulatingclosed circuit. The circulating closed circuit is formed by connectingthe atomized water particle production device, the extracting device,the condensing device, and the decompression means to each other throughthe pipes. When a magnetic field is applied to the raw material, thewater, and the atomized water particles, the magnetic field acts on themolecules and the electron energy of the raw material, the water, andthe atomized water particles. This reduces the size of the molecularclusters of the raw material, the water, and the atomized waterparticles, and therefore, achieves activation thereof. This allows forefficient extraction of a large variety of active ingredients.

In order to solve the problems of the conventional techniques, thepresent invention also provides a method for extracting activeingredients, the method including the steps of:

(a) producing atomized water particles;

(b) activating a raw material subjected to decompression to allow activeingredients in the raw material to be extracted to a surface of the rawmaterial;

(c) bringing the raw material into contact with the atomized waterparticles so that the atomized water particles trap the activeingredients extracted to the surface of the raw material; and

(d) condensing and liquefying the atomized water particles that hold theactive ingredients.

In the method for extracting active ingredients, the raw material may befrom any one of a plant substance, an animal substance, and a mineralsubstance.

In the method for extracting active ingredients, some of the atomizedwater particles, which are not liquefied in the step (d), may be againbrought into contact with the raw material, and may then be condensedand liquefied.

The activation means for activating the raw material may include all, orat least one of, magnetic vibration means, ultrasonic means, andmagnetizing means.

In the method for extracting active ingredients according to any one ofthe foregoing embodiments, a magnetic field may be applied to water orthe atomized water particles.

The method for extracting active ingredients may further include thestep of solidifying the active ingredients in cooled water that isobtained in the liquefying step (d) and that contains an extract fromthe raw material, the solidifying step including the steps of:

(e) preparing a heated absorbent material;

(f) bringing the extract in the cooled water into contact with theabsorbent material by using a vacuum and pressure driving force; and

(g) drying the absorbent material that is wetted in the step (f) inorder to produce a solid from the extract, in which the absorbentmaterial may be a hydrophilic filter membrane made of polyvinylidenefluoride and/or a glass fiber membrane, and the absorbent material maybe heated before or during absorbing the extract to expand pores of themembrane, thereby to enhance wetting of the absorbent material with thecooled water having the extract in the step (f).

The method for extracting active ingredients may further include thestep of adding solvent to the dried extract to again extract the activeingredients from the solvent. The solvent may be water.

In the method for extracting active ingredients, the drying step (g) maybe freeze-drying. In the method for extracting active ingredients, thefreeze-drying may be carried out at a temperature ranging from betweenabout −10 degree Celsius to −70 degree Celsius.

The present invention, which has the construction and operates asdescribed above, allows for efficient extraction of a wider variety ofactive ingredients from various substances, compared to the conventionaltechniques. More specifically, the present invention allows a minuteamount of active ingredients present in plant, animal, mineral or othersubstances to be efficiently extracted therefrom without impairing thenatural functionality of the active ingredients. The present inventionalso allows the active ingredients to be obtained in solid form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction withthe appended drawing figures, wherein like reference numerals denotelike elements, and:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example embodiment of anapparatus for extracting active ingredients according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of an example embodiment of an apparatus forextracting active ingredients according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of an example embodiment of anextracting device according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a cutaway side view of the extracting device according to oneexample embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a cutaway side view of the extracting device according toanother example embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a cutaway side view of the extracting device according to afurther example embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The ensuing detailed description provides exemplary embodiments only,and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configurationof the invention. Rather, the ensuing detailed description of theexemplary embodiments will provide those skilled in the art with anenabling description for implementing an embodiment of the invention. Itshould be understood that various changes may be made in the functionand arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, exemplary embodiments ofthe present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a block diagramillustrating a construction of an apparatus A for extracting activeingredients according to one embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 1, areference numeral 1 represents an atomized water particle productiondevice or an atomized water particle production tank. A referencenumeral 2 represents an extracting device. The atomized water particleproduction tank 1 delivers atomized water particles to the extractingdevice 2. The extracting device 2 uses the atomized water particles toextract active ingredients from a plant, an animal or a mineral rawmaterial that is pulverized into pieces. The extracting device 2includes activation means 21 for activating the raw material.

Reference numerals 3, 4, and 5 represent a condensing device, a tank,and a blower, respectively. The condensing device 3 is designed toliquefy the atomized water particles that are delivered from theextracting device 2 and that hold the active ingredients of the rawmaterial. The tank 4 is designed to reserve active ingredient containingwater that is liquefied by the condensing device 3 and that contains theactive ingredients of the raw material. The blower 5 is provided betweenthe atomized water particle production device 1 and the condensingdevice 3, and is designed to function as decompression means. As shownin FIG. 1, the atomized water particle production device 1, theextracting device 2, the condensing device 3, and the blower 5 as thedecompression means are connected to each other through pipes, forming acirculating closed circuit R. When the blower 5 operates, air flow thatcontains the atomized water particles circulates through the circulatingclosed circuit R.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an example embodiment of the apparatus A forextracting active ingredients that has the aforementioned construction.As shown in FIG. 2, the atomized water particle production device 1 is awater tank, which may be made of stainless steel and have, for example,a width of 35 cm, depth of 60 cm, and height of 35 cm. The water tank 1is designed to reserve 30 to 40 liters of water constantly during theoperation. The water tank 1 may have an ultrasonic generator in whichultrasonic vibrators are provided at the bottom of the water tank 1.Each ultrasonic vibrator is capable of atomizing about 0.5 liter ofwater per hour. The ultrasonic generator has functions of wateratomization and activation. In the water tank 1, a heater may also beprovided to heat the water to a predetermined temperature.

The extracting device 2 is provided on a side wall of a frame body B.The extracting device 2 is connected to the water tank 1 or the atomizedwater particle production device through a flexible plastic pipe P1. Areference numeral and symbol P2 represents a flexible pipe that connectsthe extracting device 2 to the condensing device 3.

The condensing device 3 includes plural condensing tubes. The condensingdevice 3 may be provided in a cooling chamber 3 a inside of the framebody B, and is connected to the extracting device 2 located outside ofthe cooling chamber 3 a through the pipe P2. The condensing device 3 isdesigned to drop the active ingredient containing water to the tank 4through a pipe P3. The pipe P3 is connected to the bottom of thecondensing device 3. The tank 4 is designed to reserve the activeingredient containing water. The condensing device 3 is connected to theblower 5 as the decompression means through a pipe P4. The blower 5allows some of the atomized water particles, which are not condensed inthe condensing device 3, to be recycled to the water tank 1 or theatomized water particle production device through a pipe P5.

The aforementioned pipes P1, P2, P4, and P5 form the circulating closedcircuit R. When the blower 5 as the decompression means operates, theair flow that contains the atomized water particles circulates throughthe circulating closed circuit R as shown by the arrows in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of an example embodiment of theextracting device 2. In FIG. 3, a reference numeral and symbol 2 arepresents a cylindrical housing having a mesh bottom. The housing 2 ahouses therein a raw material container 6 made up of meshes. The rawmaterial container 6 stores a raw material therein. A reference numeraland symbol 2 c represents a first collection cylinder which receives theatomized water particles from the tank 1. The activation means 21 foractivating the raw material is provided below the housing 2 a. Forexample, the first collection cylinder 2 c may include the activationmeans 21. A reference numeral and symbol 2 b represents a secondcollection cylinder designed to deliver the atomized water particlesfrom the housing 2 a to the pipe P2. The second collection cylinder 2 bis interposed between the housing 2 a and the pipe P2.

FIG. 4 is a cutaway side view of the extracting device 2 according toone example embodiment of the invention. The housing 2 a has the meshbottom through which the atomized water particles pass. The raw materialcontainer 6 made up of meshes is designed to store a raw material, andis housed in the housing 2 a. In this embodiment of the invention, theactivation means 21 is a known magnetic vibrator with a vibrating plate2 c 1. Under the action of the ring-shaped vibrating plate 2 c 1, a rawmaterial M in the raw material container 6 rotates as shown by thearrows in FIG. 4. Thus, when the atomized water particles pass throughlayers of the raw material M in the raw material container 6, theatomized water particles contact with the entire surface of eachpulverized piece of the raw material M, for example, coffee beans. Thisextremely increases the efficiency of trapping active ingredients in theraw material. In addition, the synergy between high-speed microvibrations of the magnetic vibrator and decompression promotesextraction of various active ingredients in the raw material to thesurfaces of the pulverized pieces of the raw material. This enables theatomized water particles to trap a wider variety of active ingredients,compared to the conventional techniques.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the extracting device 2 according to anotherembodiment of the invention. In this embodiment of the invention, theactivation means 21 is a known ultrasonic generator. The ultrasonicgenerator as the activation means 21 has an ultrasonic radiator 2 c 2and an ultrasonic vibrating plate 2 c 3. The ultrasonic generator 2 c 2stands at the mesh bottom of the housing 2 a and protrudes toward theraw material M in the raw material container 6 made up of meshes. Theultrasonic vibrating plate 2 c 3 has a ring shape and is provided on theperiphery of the bottom of the housing 2 a. Either ultrasonic radiationor ultrasonic vibration, or both ultrasonic radiation and ultrasonicvibration may be selectively applied to the raw material M. Operation ofthe ultrasonic generator as the activation means 21 results in the sameeffect as obtained by operation of the magnetic vibrator. Especially, anultrasonic wave is radiated to the raw material M, thereby splitting thehigh molecular weight polymer chains within the raw material M, and thusachieving activation within the raw material M. This promotes extractionof the active ingredient to the surface of the raw material M, andtherefore, enables the atomized water particles to trap a wider varietyof active ingredients, compared to the conventional techniques.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the extracting device 2 according to a fembodiment of the invention. The extracting device may be provided witha magnetizing device Md (either with or without the activation device 21present). The magnetizing device Md uses a magnetic field generator,such as an electromagnet and a permanent magnet. The magnetic fieldgenerator is provided to the housing 2 a of the extracting device. Amagnetizing device Md with a magnetic field generator may beadditionally mounted to the water tank 1 and/or at an appropriatelocation of the circulating closed circuit R (e.g., as shown in FIG. 2).When a magnetic field is applied to the raw material, the water, and theatomized water particles, the magnetic field acts on the molecules andthe electron energy of the raw material, the water, and the atomizedwater particles. This reduces the size of the molecular clusters of theraw material, the water, and the atomized water particles, andtherefore, achieves activation thereof. This allows for efficientextraction of a large variety of active ingredients.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, operation of the apparatus forextracting active ingredients will be described below, in combinationwith a method for extracting active ingredients according to an exampleembodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, raw coffee beans areused as a raw material M. Those skilled in the art will appreciate theinvention may be used to extract ingredients from other raw materials.

First the coffee beans M are pulverized into pieces as small as ricegrains. The pulverized pieces are stored in the raw material container 6made up of meshes. This raw material, container 6 is loaded in thehousing 2 a.

Then, 30 to 50 liters of water is reserved in the water tank 1 or theatomized water particle production device shown in FIG. 2. The watertank 1 is designed to automatically maintain the aforementioned amountof water. When the water and coffee beans (or other raw material) areprepared in the water tank 1 and in the extracting device 2,respectively, the heater provided in the water tank 1 heats the watertherein to a predetermined temperature.

In the event of using coffee beans as a raw material, the predeterminedtemperature of 85° c. is found optimal empirically. The predeterminedtemperature of 85° c. is optimal for maintaining the temperature withinthe extracting device 2 at 60 to 70° c., as will be described later.

When the water temperature within the water tank 1 reaches thepredetermined temperature of 85° c., the ultrasonic generator providedin the water tank 1 is switched ON, while the blower 5 as thedecompression means is switched ON.

When the blower 5 operates, air flow circulates through the water tank1, the extracting device 2, the condensing device 3, the blower 5, andthe circulating closed circuit R formed by the connecting pipes thatconnect these devices to each other.

Together with the air flow, the atomized water particles produced in thewater tank 1 pass through the aforementioned pipe P1 and reach theextracting device 2. A temperature of the atomized water particles inthe extracting device 2 preferably falls within a range of 60 to 70° c.,as mentioned above. A temperature sensor may be mounted to theextracting device 2 to constantly detect the temperature within theextracting device 2. In order to obtain the preferable temperature, thewater temperature within the water tank 1 is controlled depending on thedetection results.

As mentioned above, when the blower 5 operates, air flow circulatesthrough the respective devices. The air flow passes through the pipe P1and reaches the extracting device 2 where the raw material or coffeebeans are filled. Thus, the air flow receives resistance from theextracting device 2 and is prevented from passing therethrough. Incontrast, nothing prevents the air flow from passing through thecirculating closed circuit R from the connecting pipe P2 and thefollowing pipes. Thus, a space within the extracting device 2 is under adecompressed condition. In combination with the decompressed condition,the coffee beans filled in the housing 2 a of the extracting device areactivated by the activation means 21 (e.g., magnetic vibration,ultrasonic vibration, ultrasonic radiation, and/or magnetic fieldapplication).

When the raw material is activated in the decompressed space within theextracting device 2, various kinds of active ingredients contained inthe raw material or coffee beans are extracted to the surfaces of thepulverized pieces of the coffee beans. By vibrating the raw material,the atomized water particles are brought into contact with the entiresurface of each pulverized piece of the coffee beans. When passingthrough the layers of the raw material, the atomized water particlesefficiently traps the various kinds of active ingredients extracted tothe surfaces of the pulverized pieces of the coffee beans. As describedabove, the temperature within the extracting device, more specifically,the temperature within the housing 2 a is maintained at around 65° c.This prevents the active ingredients contained in the coffee beans frombeing destroyed by heat, and therefore allows the active ingredients tobe extracted into the atomized water particles.

While holding the active ingredients of the coffee beans, the atomizedwater particles pass together with the air flow through the connectingpipe P2 and reach the respective condensing tubes of the condensingdevice 3. The condensing device 3 is provided in the cooling chamber 3 awithin which the condensing tubes and a cooler of the condensing device3 are cooled. Thus, some of the atomized water particles contact withthe condensing tubes and the cooler, and are liquefied into water thatcontains the active ingredients of the coffee beans. The water thatcontains the active ingredients of the coffee beans drops to the tank 4and is reserved in the tank 4.

In contrast, some of the atomized water particles may not be liquefiedin the condensing device 3, and pass together with the air flow throughthe connecting pipe P4. These atomized water particles are sucked by theblower 5, and then recycled to the water tank 1. After that, theatomized water particles are delivered again to the extracting device 2through the connecting pipe P1.

As mentioned above, when circulating through the circulating closedcircuit R, the atomized water particles trap the active ingredients ofthe raw material or coffee beans. These atomized water particles areliquefied to obtain water that contains the active ingredients of thecoffee beans. The duration of a single operation of the apparatus isapproximately one hour. More specifically, in the foregoing exampleembodiment, approximately 1,800 grams of pulverized pieces of coffeebeans are used during a one-hour extraction. This results in producingapproximately 3 to 4 liters of water that contains the extractedingredients.

The final product obtained in the tank 4 via the condensing device 3 isa colorless, transparent, and clear liquid. The extract (activeingredients) in the final liquid product is solidified in accordancewith one of the processes of the present invention. In one embodiment ofthe invention, the extract is solidified according to the followingprocedure. A non-nutritional adsorbent material is used. Suitableabsorbent materials include a hydrophilic filter membrane, such as apolyvinylidene fluoride membrane, and membranes of glass fiber, cotton,nylon, cellulose, and tea bag paper. The form of the membrane is notparticularly limited, and includes a sheet and a disk. Membrane materialselection depends on the process for analyzing the extract (activeingredients) of the final product.

The absorbent material contacts with the extract. Preferably, the entiresurface of the absorbent material is wetted with the final liquidproduct that holds the extract. If the absorbent material used is amembrane material, the membrane material is completely wetted with thefinal product (extract), for example, by using a driving force of avacuum pump to vacuum or pressure the final product (extract) throughthe membrane material. The membrane material can be optionally heatedbefore or while being wetted with the final product (extract) to expandpores of the membrane and to enhance wetting.

Alternatively or in addition, the final product (extract) can be heatedalone or together with the absorbent material.

Once the absorbent material is sufficiently wetted with the finalproduct (extract), the extract is preferably dried and adhered to theabsorbent material. The extract may be dried by freeze-drying,heat-drying or air-drying. The freeze-drying may be particularlypreferred.

The dried extract may be preserved for significant lengths of timewithout deterioration of the extract. Also, this dried extract can bedissolved in water or other suitable solvent, resulting in thedissolution of the extract's active ingredients in the water or thesolvent.

Increased pressure can be used to facilitate dissolution, if desired.The dried extract is subjected to analysis, particularly, analysis forpharmaceutical research and development. If the absorbent material usedis a paper, the dried extract can be dissolved in water and ingested asa health drink.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a food material is usedas an alternative to the absorbent material. More specifically, the foodmaterial is wetted with the final liquid product (extract). The foodmaterial is of plant or animal origin (including but not limited tomeat), or of grain or vegetable origin. The food material is not limitedto a particular form, but may be in any form, including chunks, slices,powder, pieces or granules. The food material is wetted by spraying thefinal product (extract) onto the food material, or by soaking the foodmaterial in the final product (extract). Then, the soaked or wetted foodmaterial is dried, such as by air-drying, freeze-drying or heat-drying.This results in a healthy food that contains the active ingredients ofthe extract.

In either of the above embodiments, in the event when freeze drying isused, the freeze drying process is preferably carried out at atemperature ranging from −10 degree Celsius to −70 degree Celsius and ata vacuum of 5.3 cfm to 23 cfm displacement.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the temperature and thevacuum can vary depending upon the nature of the raw material and thesize of the raw material, as well as the particular freeze dryer used.The amount of time the raw material is subjected to freeze-drying can bereadily determined by the skilled artisan, and can depend in part on theconcentration of the raw material. The resulting dried product can bepreserved for long lengths of time, spanning many days or months,without deleteriously affecting the quality or taste of the product.

Indeed, the taste of the resulting product, upon reconstitution withwater or other solvent, is enhanced compared to the original rawmaterial. Transportation and storage are facilitated and made more costeffective. The active ingredients in the extract, which may be otherwisedestroyed by heating, are preserved by using the extraction processdetailed above.

The freeze-dried product also has a longer shelf life than the liquidextract, and lends itself to chemical identification and testing.

The freeze-dried product can be reconstituted simply by adding asolvent, preferably water, to the product. The amount of solvent to beadded is not particularly limited, and depends on the desiredconcentration of extract in the final potable liquid. The freeze-driedproduct can be used (i.e., without reconstitution) as an additive for orwith other foods, such as a garnish for salad, a dried soup ingredient,or mixed with other food ingredients.

The present invention, which has the construction and operates asdescribed above, allows a wider variety of active ingredients to beextracted from various substances, compared to the conventionaltechniques. The present invention also allows for efficient andhigh-speed extraction of these ingredients at a low temperature.Furthermore, the present invention allows for solidification of theactive ingredients extracted from various substances so that the solidactive ingredients are used in a wide variety of applications.

It should now be appreciated that the present invention providesadvantageous methods and apparatus for extracting active ingredients.

Although the invention has been described in connection with variousillustrated embodiments, numerous modifications and adaptations may bemade thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as set forth in the claims.

1. An apparatus for extracting active ingredients, comprising: anatomized water particle production device for producing atomized waterparticles; an extracting device for bringing a raw material into contactwith the atomized water particles, enabling the atomized water particlesto trap active ingredients from a surface of the raw material; acondensing device for liquefying the atomized water particles that holdthe active ingredients; and means for promoting extraction of the rawmaterials from the liquefied atomized water particles, said the meansfor promoting extraction comprising: decompression means for subjectingthe raw material within the extracting device to decompression; andactivation means for activating the raw material.
 2. The apparatus forextracting active ingredients according to claim 1, wherein: theatomized water particle production device, the extracting device, thecondensing device, and the decompression means are connected to eachother through pipes, forming a circulating closed circuit; and thedecompression means comprises a blower that allows air flow to circulatethrough the circulating closed circuit.
 3. The apparatus for extractingactive ingredients according to claim 1, wherein the activation meansfor activating the raw material comprises a magnetizing device.
 4. Theapparatus for extracting active ingredients according to claim 1,wherein the activation means for activating the raw material comprisesan ultrasonic device.
 5. The apparatus for extracting active ingredientsaccording to claim 1, wherein the activation means for activating theraw material comprises a magnetic vibrator.
 6. The apparatus forextracting active ingredients according to claims 1, wherein: theactivation means for activating the raw material comprises at least oneof a magnetizing device, an ultrasonic device, and a magnetic vibrator;the extracting device comprises a housing and a raw material containerhoused in the housing; the housing is provided with at least one of themagnetizing device, the ultrasonic device, and the magnetic vibrator;and the raw material container is made up of meshes.
 7. The apparatusfor extracting active ingredients according to claims 1, wherein amagnetizing device for applying a magnetic field to water or theatomized water particles is provided.
 8. A method for extracting activeingredients, comprising: producing atomized water particles; activatinga raw material subjected to decompression to allow active ingredients inthe raw material to be extracted to a surface of the raw material;bringing the raw material into contact with the atomized water particlesso that the atomized water particles trap the active ingredientsextracted to the surface of the raw material; and condensing andliquefying the atomized water particles that hold the activeingredients.
 9. The method for extracting active ingredients accordingto claim 8, wherein the raw material is from one of a plant substance,an animal substance, and a mineral substance.
 10. The method forextracting active ingredients according to claim 8, wherein some of theatomized water particles, which are not liquefied in the condensing andliquefying step, are again brought into contact with the raw material,and are then condensed and liquefied.
 11. The method for extractingactive ingredients according to claim 8, wherein the raw material isactivated by at least one of a magnetic vibration means, an ultrasonicmeans, and a magnetizing means.
 12. The method for extracting activeingredients according to claim 8, wherein a magnetic field is applied towater or to the atomized water particles.